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CMC Australia

The Cluster Munition Coalition is an international civil society campaign working to eradicate cluster munitions, prevent further casualties from these weapons and put an end for all time to the suffering they cause. The Coalition works through its members to change the policy and practice of governments and organisations towards these aims and raise awareness of the problem amongst the public. CMC Australia was formed on 16 January 2008. We are member of the CMC International along with other global campaigns in over 90 countries.

CMC Australia members

Act for Peace * Amnesty International * Australian Network Ban Landmines & Cluster munitions (ANBLC) * Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) * Australian Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies University of Queensland * Australian Federation of Graduate Women * Australian Federation of Islamic Councils * Australian Lawyers for Human Rights * Australian National University * Australian Peace Committee * Australian Pugwash Group * ChildFund Australia * Ban Bus * Campaign for International Co-operation and Disarmament (CICD) * Caritas * Christian Blind Mission (CBM) * Global Action to Prevent War at the University of Queensland * International Commission of Jurists - Australia * Jesuit Refugee Services Australia * Just Peace QLD * Medical Association for Prevention of War (MAPW) * MedAct * Missionaries of the Sacred Heart Justice and Peace Centre * Mines Victims and Clearance Trust (MiVAC) * Monash University * National Council of Churches Australia/Christian World Service (NCCA/CWS) * Oxfam * Pax Christi NSW * Peace Organisation of Australia * People With Disability * Sydney Centre for International Law * TEAR Australia * United Nations Association of Australia (UNAA) * UNICEF
Australia * Union Abroad APHEDA * Universal Village * World Vision.

What are cluster bombs?

Cluster bombs are essentially a bigger bombs with dozens or several hundreds bomblets inside which are either dropped from the air by aircrafts or shot out by artillery rockets, and missile systems on the ground. Submunitions released by airdropped cluster bombs are most often called “bomblets,” while those delivered from the ground by artillery or rockets are usually referred to as “grenades.” Cluster bombs are often used to destroy multiple targets, and they are often deployed in tens of thousands over a small area.

What’s the problem with this weapon?

Air-dropped or ground-launched, they cause two major humanitarian problems and risks to civilians. First, their widespread dispersal means they cannot distinguish between military targets and civilians so the humanitarian impact can be extreme, especially when the weapon is used in or near populated areas. Many submunitions fail to detonate on impact and become de facto antipersonnel mines killing and maiming people long after the conflict has ended. These duds are more lethal than antipersonnel mines; incidents involving submunition duds are much more likely to cause death than injury.

Failed self destruct mechanism on m-85 cluster bombs

Self destruct cluster bombs that are not self destructing

Who has used cluster munitions?

At least 15 countries have used cluster munitions: Eritrea, Ethiopia, France, Georgia, Israel, Morocco, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Russia (USSR), Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tajikistan, UK, US, and FR Yugoslavia. A small number of non-state armed groups have used the weapon (such as Hezbollah in Lebanon in 2006). Billions of submunitions are stockpiled by some 76 countries. A total of 34 states are known to have produced over 210 different types cluster munitions. More than two dozen countries have been affected by the use of cluster munitions including Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, Chad, Croatia, DR Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Georgia, Grenada, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Montenegro, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Uganda, and Vietnam, as well as Chechnya, Falkland/Malvinas, Nagorno-Karabakh, and Western Sahara.

Why is a ban on cluster munitions necessary?

Simply put, cluster munitions kill and injure too many civilians. The weapon caused more civilian casualties in Iraq in 2003 and Kosovo in 1999 than any other weapon system. Cluster munitions stand out as the weapon that poses the gravest dangers to civilians since antipersonnel mines, which were banned in 1997. Until 2008 there was no provision in international law to specifically address problems caused by cluster munitions. Israel’s massive use of the weapon in Lebanon in August 2006 resulted in more than 200 civilian casualties in the year following the ceasefire and served as the catalyst that has propelled governments to attempt to secure a legally-binding international instrument tackling cluster munitions in 2008.

What is the Oslo Process?

In February 2007, 46 governments met in Oslo to endorse a call by Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre to conclude a new legally binding instrument in 2008 that prohibits the use, production, transfer and stockpiling of cluster munitions that cause unacceptable harm to civilians and provide adequate resources to assist survivors and clear contaminated areas. Subsequent International Oslo Process meetings were held in Peru (May 2007), Austria (December 2007), and New Zealand (February 2008) and in Dublin (May 2008). In Oslo (December 2008) the convention was opened for signatures. It entered into force on August 1st 2010. See updates on ratifications and states acceding to the convention here.